Helenendorf

HISTORY

Goygol (also, Xanlar, Chanlar, Elenendorf, Helenendorf, Khanlar, Kol-Yelendorf, and Yelenendorf) is a city and municipality in and the capital of the Goygol Rayon in northwestern Azerbaijan. The municipality includes the city of Goygol and the village of Qızılqaya. There was a settlement here as early as the Bronze Age. An extensive cemetery was excavated in the 1990s, with many bronze we

apons (swords, daggers, axes), some jewelry (rings, bracelets, necklaces), and clay black dishes with the geometric designs, some of which are on display at the local museum. The city of Goygol was founded as Helenendorf in 1819 by Germans from Württemberg, brought as a colony under orders of Czar Alexander to help settle the region that had just been acquired from Persia under the Treaty of Gulistan of 1813. The German population was deported, 1935–1941, to Siberia on Stalin's orders. Traces of the German settlement can be seen in the school buildings and the parish church. The town was renamed to Khanlar in 1938 in honor of the Azerbaijani labor organizer Khanlar Safaraliyev. It was renamed in 2008 after a nearby lake, Göygöl. TOURİSM

Khanlar city
Distance with Baku: 364 km
Population: 54200
How to reach: By bus. Scheduled bus Baku-Khanlar, Baku-G***a


Khanlar district is allocated at the west of the Republic to the south of G***a in agricultural region. There are forests, gardens, mountains and seven splendid lakes. The most highest sport in the area is Gamish mountain (3724 m) allocated at the edge of Murovdag. Climate in the area is moderate – hot. Via the territory of the area, there are flowing Gushgara, G***achay Rivers. Here many birds are nested. These are ideal places for making hunting and fisheries. In summer amateurs of nature used to arrive here, lodged apartment from local habitants and make exciting excursions and hiking. Due to that fact villages of Mikhailovka, Yeni Zod, Togana had converted into like tourist centers. Tourist routes are being used by huge popularity:
1. Khanlar – Ashigli – Hajikend – Goy-Gol. Tourists making their voyages upon that route could review historical monument – church of Saint Mariya. Termination of the route is allocated at Goy-Gol National park. Here you might be encountered with the marvelous nature, fantastic forests, transparent rills, the most beautiful lakes, abundant animal world.
2. Khanlar – Topalhasanli – Zurnabad – Shakhriyar. Route extension – 18 km. At that itinerary, there are allocated historical monuments: The White Bridge (XII century), burial-mounds of bronzed and iron Ages. In villages of Zurnabad and Shakhriyar, it is possible to buy handed carpets, having been weaving by local craftswomen.
3. Khanlar – Keshku – Uchbulag (9 km).
4. Khanlar – Gushgara – Balchili. Route length – 15 kilometers. In balchili village there is existed ancient tower. In Gushgara village there exists Motel. Those routes are popular among self-acted tourists. The district center, Khanlar city, formed Helenendorf, was founded at place of the ancient settlement Khanliglar by deutsche settlements having been settled here in XIX century. During Stalin times the Germans were evicted towards Middle Asia, but town still is keeping traces of their presence: flat streets, woody buildings and church. The area center is allocated in 15 km from railroad terminal of G***a city. In the city, there is usual museum of history, musical school and cinema. You may also review the bridge, age of which, is elder by seven centuries than in the city. In 40 km from the are center there is “Goy-Gol” national Park. Here the nature, being far from city rushes, impresses everybody with the beauty of forests, by blue of lakes, fascinate by singing of birds, by flavor of greenery and flowers. From Khanlar district towards here there are following microbuses, trip cost is ranged from 3000 till 5000 manats. Here you could find out a lot of not big restaurants, cafes, and snack bars. Among historical monuments in the area it is possible to highlight the tower of XII century in the village Sarigaya, fortress of XII century in Zurnabad village, Lutheran church of XIX century situated in Khanlar city, Gabriel church XVII century in Shakhriyar village, “Ag korpu” bridge XII century in village of Topalhasanli, two rivers outspreaded at G***achay river in Kahnlar city – “Iki gozlu korlu” (XVI century) and “Uch gozlu korlu” (XIX century). There are known archeological finding of bronzed and iron centuries. To buy products of manual products one might in Shakhriyar village.